Conrad to Livingston is 267.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m via First Special Service Force Memorial Highway and I 90, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Montana, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, suggesting a blend of highway speeds and potentially more varied road conditions. Given the relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing for a straightforward transit between these two Montana locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.9 miles from Conrad, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
145.1 mi
2h 18m
I 90
55.4 mi
56m
US 12
34.1 mi
40m
US 287
27.9 mi
30m
I 90 Business
2.6 mi
4m
Prospect Avenue
1 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
West Park Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 18m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~440 veh/hr typical
· worst 541
Quietest
1 AM
~13 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
33.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, MT and Livingston, MT.
1
Start on I 15 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 15
145 mi·2 hr 18 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit onto US 287
0.2 mi·33 sec·US 287
Exit 192Toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Capitol Area
5
Turn left onto US 12; US 287
1.0 mi·1 min·Prospect Avenue
6
Continue on US 12; US 287
3.6 mi·5 min·US 12; US 287
7
Continue on US 12; US 287
0.3 mi·26 sec·US 12; US 287
8
Continue on US 12; US 287
30 mi·34 min·US 12; US 287
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 287
1.2 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 287
1.4 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 287
23 mi·24 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 90 East: Billings
14
Merge onto I 90
55 mi·56 min·I 90
15
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
16
Turn left onto I 90 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·I 90 Business
17
Turn left onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·West Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 4 hours and 35 minutes, this is a drive you can comfortably complete in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for flexibility and potential unexpected delays. The longest stretch is over 145 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly; consult your fuel cost estimate of $42 to gauge your needs. Make sure to check road conditions before you leave, especially if traveling during shoulder seasons, as weather can impact the drive. Consider a brief stop around the halfway mark to stretch your legs before continuing to Livingston.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.9 miles from Conrad, MT, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 59 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.9 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Conrad, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Conrad, MT
This is one driving day of about 267.9 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Conrad, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for about 145.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 146.3 and 267.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
146.3 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Capitol Area
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 192
Toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Cap...
6
209.3 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East: Billings
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 East: Billings
4
264.9 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: Livingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
4
265.1 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|I 90 Business
Turn left onto I 90 Business
Navigation decision point
5
267.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|I 90 Business / West Park Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business / West Park Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.76 one way
$83.51 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$44.01
$88.03
premium
$4.47
$47.19
$94.38
diesel
$4.80
$50.58
$101.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.4
0
$28.13
$12.86
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.44
$10.72
EV Truck/SUV
107.2
1
$37.51
$17.15
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Conrad, MT
Night
in Conrad on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 11:51PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:06PM MDT until July 18 at 1:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Livingston, MT
Night
in Livingston on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 3 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 11:51PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:06PM MDT until July 18 at 1:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 45% of your journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway and I 90, as well as US 12. The longest uninterrupted drive segment covers 145.1 miles on the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, so be prepared for an extended period of continuous driving on this particular road. The profile suggests that the character of the drive will change as you progress, moving from potentially more open highway to other road types.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 146.3 miles in near US 287.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 267.9 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 146.3 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 264.9 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,073 ft3,333 ft
Total Climb
2,682 ft
Total Descent
1,694 ft
Highest Point
5,073 ft
~248.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,740 ft
Notable High Points
4,619 ft at ~133.9 miles+635 ft prominence
5,073 ft at ~248.8 miles+572 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Conrad, MT to Livingston, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Capitol Area along the way.
Livingston is a city in the Yellowstone Country of Montana. It is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Livingston is commonly called "The Gateway City" because it was the original entrance to Yellowstone.
Top landmarks
•The Murray Hotel — historic hotel in Livingston, Montana, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 267.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 146.3 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 264.9 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Livingston, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
